73 Challenger Door Handle Question

[Chryco Psycho]

70-71 had contoured handles , concave for Chall , convex for Cuda to match the body lines , in 72 they went to 1 flat handle for both to cut costs , I have some spare handles but they are miles from me now or I would send you one . Dales is the only one I know of with the corrct contour for the challenger . They are dark grey inside as other said , Chryslers handles are curved for the Cuda

[burdar]

Chrylser accually switched to the flat handle sometime in the 71 model year.  There are pictures on Moparts of a spring/summer built 71 Challenger survivor with the flat handles.   I just learned that myself a couple weeks ago.   

[71F7BH23]

http://www.rosevillemoparts.com/product_info.php/p/70-74-challenger-door-handle-set-correct-contour/products_id/2520

12/73 All e-body handles became the same, they dropped the challenger handle and sold/installed cuda style on all.

[burdar]

72-74 Challengers did NOT use a Cuda handle.  Both the Cuda and Challenger used the same handle but it was a third style...flat not curved.

[joelson6]

my '72 came with Challenger handles.


hey Darren, how's it going?

[quapman]

Curved handles only came on 70-71 (maybe early 72) Challengers. All e-bodies got the flat/convex (same thing/different names) cuda handles from then on.

[joelson6]

the build date on my '72 is 12-7-71, it had the challenger handles. actually it came with a lot of '71 "model" stuff.

[burdar]

All e-bodies got the flat/convex (same thing/different names) cuda handles from then on.

I respectfully disagree.  There is a difference between the Cuda handles and the flat 72-74 ones.   Here's the Moparts link again.   The 72-74 cars don't have that large gap between the middle of the handle and the body like there is if a Cuda handle is used.  I thought someone posted 3 different part numbers at one time as well.

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=5928820&Main=5925115

The link also shows a 71 with the flat handles.  That doesn't make sence if Greg's 72 came with the curved ones.

[joelson6]

yup. i'm aware of that. my original handles were the Challenger handles and not the flat late model handles.

[Challenger6pak]

Due to supply the change over date may be different between L.A. and Hamtramck.  I have run into different change over times between the two plants on other items.

[quapman]

OK, I stand corrected. I'll have to dig out all my handles and check contours and parts numbers one of these days.

[Challenger6pak]

I have the 70, 71, and 73 parts book.  My 72 book was destroyed along with the house when we were hit by the three hurricanes.  Here are the part numbers I have:

70 & 71 Challenger 2999882-3
70 & 71 Cuda 2999816-7
73 Challenger 3768214-5
73 Cuda 3768214-5

Three sets of parts numbers for three sets of handles. 

[joelson6]

stock probably didn't get rotated like it should have. remember, this is people on the assembly line we're
talking about, not computers and robots. new handles could have come in, workers started using them and
then a supervisor realized there was a whole batch of old  handles that had to be used.

another scenario,

the flat handles came in, they brought them directly to the line and put them on 30 or 40 cars to see how they fit
then went back to using the old handles.

you never really know what they did on the lines.

[AmazenToys]

My new handles are on, they match the stock ones taken off, flat, I also seen the painted witness line now. I'm happy to have them on, and being able to open my driver door again. Next car show I go to, I'm watching more close this time.

[joelson6]

congrats! great to hear they worked out for you.


even though my car had the challenger handles. i put the flat repos on
cause that's what was available at the time i bought them. they still
look awesome new, huh......